X Factor hopeful Dan Ferrari-Lane from District 3 has told heat exclusively that Katie Price has been texting him regularly since the pair met two weeks ago.

Eighteen-year-old Dan and Katie – who is 16 years older than him – met in a hotel room at the Corinthia, London, where the X Factor contestants are staying. They were introduced by Katie’s good pal Rylan Clark, and according to Dan they’ve been in regular contact ever since.

“She came up to the hotel to see [her friend] Rylan and asked to meet me and the rest of the band” he tells heat. “We went to her room and just chilled for a few hours. That’s how we first met."

And it seems like Katie had her eye on Dan from the word go.

“Rylan told me she fancied me and I thought, ‘Oh no, no way. Why would she fancy me?’”

You’re pretty hot in case you hadn’t noticed, Dan…

 

After the pair were reunited during an appearance on Daybreak, mum-of-three Katie got Dan’s number and text him.

“She text me saying, ‘Hi, Rylan gave me your number, it was lovely to meet you, blah, blah, blah…’ We just started texting each other from there."

 

Things get flirty

Dan claims that during his appearance on Daybreak, Katie, 34, told him “You’re looking good this morning.”

So it seems Katie’s interested, despite being engaged to Leandro Penna. Although their relationship is said to be on rocky ground and Katie hasn't been seen wearing her engagement ring for over a month.

But does Dan have the hots for Katie?

“I’ve always been a Katie Price fan,” Dan tells heat. “I’m a massive fan of her boobs. They’re massive.”

Well at least he’s honest.

Despite everything Dan's said, it seems like Katie's not too happy about the recent revelations.

An insider claims Katie is outraged by the suggestion that she's pursuing the teenager.

"Katie would not be flirting with an 18-year-old," says an insider close to the glamour model.

"She doesn't see Dan as anything more than a friend."

Is this Gareth Gates all over again?

If this story is true, Dan wouldn’t be the first talent show hopeful to catch Katie’s eye. Remember in 2003 when she claimed she’d slept with Pop Idol runner-up Gareth Gates when he was just 17?

Gareth eventually confessed to heat that he’d slept with her – while she was pregnant with her first child Harvey.

Read the full story in this week’s heat magazine – out now!